The Theodore Baird Residence, also known as Baird House, is a suburban house designed by American architect

Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years. Wright played a key role in the architectural movements o ...

, and located at 38 Shays Street in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. It is the only Wright design in Massachusetts. The

Usonia Usonia () is a word that was used by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright to refer to the United States in general (in preference to ''America''), and more specifically to his vision for the landscape of the country, including the planning of ...

n house was planned and built in 1940 for Amherst College English professor Theodore Baird. The Bairds became interested in Wright's work after reading his autobiography, and submitted a commission to him. Wright produced drawings based on the Baird's description of their lifestyle and a description of the lot. They were unable to locate contractors in the area who were able to do the work, so the construction work was done by Wright protégé

William Wesley Peters William Wesley Peters (June 12, 1912 – July 17, 1991) was an American architect and engineer, apprentice to and protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright. Early life Wes, as he was known to friends and associates, was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on Jun ...

. Part of the construction work was done at a factory in

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

, and moved to Amherst for final assembly. The house was the only

n for which the materials were prefabricated before being brought to the site. It is a single-family house with brick, cypress wood and glass façades and a flat roof highly cantilevered over a carport. Heating is conveyed by pipes distributing hot water through the concrete floor.B. B. Pfeiffer, P. Gössel, G. Leuthäuser, ''Frank Lloyd Wright'', p. 138–139,

Taschen Taschen is a luxury art book publisher founded in 1980 by Benedikt Taschen in Cologne, Germany. As of January 2017, Taschen is co-managed by Benedikt and his eldest daughter, Marlene Taschen. History The company began as Taschen Comics, ...

Verlag; 1991. There are also three fireplaces, one in the master bedroom and another with a single chimney and two grates which is divided by a partition wall separating the living room and study.Caroline Knight, ''Frank Lloyd Wright'', p. 162, Parragon; 2004. The building includes an in-law apartment for Baird's mother, which is located at the opposite end of the house from the Bairds' quarters. Wright's design also included a dedicated space for the Bairds' dog, including a dog run and doghouse. The house is set back about from the road. The property, which was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1985, also includes a woodlot that extends behind the house and neighboring properties on Shays Street.

References

*Storrer, William Allin. ''The Frank Lloyd Wright Companion''. University Of Chicago Press, 2006, (S.277)

External links

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{{Authority control Baird Residence Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts Houses completed in 1940 Houses in Hampshire County, Massachusetts Buildings and structures in Amherst, Massachusetts National Register of Historic Places in Hampshire County, Massachusetts

See also

References

External links